Chapter 7. Favor and Calculation (7)

There were several difficulties in purifying the lake, which looked very dangerous just by looking at it.

Wasn’t the nearby sand already contaminated by magic? The sand blown by the wind would surely have a significant impact on the human body.

It’s not easy to wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose when everything under the sun seems to be burning.

And in such a situation, we had to set up camp on the sandy desert.

The distance from the gnome residential area to here is quite far. However, working for only a few hours a day and then returning and coming back again is nowhere near enough to purify the entire lake.

At that time, the magic sphere had risen above the ground, but not at all now. Whether it’s inside the lake or if that magic sphere hasn’t been created yet, we don’t know, but for now, there’s no other way to calm the situation than to blindly pour holy power into it.

At least there was a way to protect the place where we were staying. By placing the pebble-sized holy artifacts I had diligently created in the center, and by sticking the knights’ swords along the boundary line. That way, at least within the space where we resided, only ‘plain sand’ remained.

The purification method I chose was to bless the surrounding sand.

If magic seeps into the ground through water, then conversely, we would bless the sand that would mix into the water.

And it had some effect. At the edge of the lake, in the area I purified, clear water returned, albeit very slightly. Although it quickly disappeared as if mixed with black paint, the sand around it continuously purified the water with small splashes.

“Are you okay?”

The problem is that after doing such things, my strength wanes.

Ria grabbed my arm to support me. No, she didn’t just grab my arm; she made me lean against her body.

Well, she had even given me a princess carry before, so it might not be a big problem, but the feeling of bodies touching between someone you don’t know well and a close friend is a bit different.

Just as there’s a big difference between a hairdresser touching your hair to style it and someone touching your hair just to stroke it.

However, it was even more difficult because I couldn’t lean on someone else’s body.

“If it’s like this, it will be difficult to purify the entire lake.”

“Still, we can purify the area around the land. We can slow down the rate of contamination.”

“…?”

Hearing my words, Ria furrowed her brow.

She seemed to understand my feelings but questioned if there was a reason to go this far.

…If I don’t stop it, it will surely become a big problem someday.

In the novel, it even caused gnome refugees. Putting aside social chaos, I can’t just overlook the people who will die.

Above all, it was an event that would eventually cause great harm to Earth.

“If only we could get onto the lake, we could somehow manage by pouring sand into it.”

“…All electronic devices and magic-powered devices will break down, so we’ll have to row a wooden boat.”

“I know…”

But just in case, I’m continuously purifying the sand itself. Even if I don’t pour it into the lake, it will be useful if I make it now.

“Sigh.”

Ria deliberately let out a deep sigh as if to show me.

“If it’s like this, you’ll just collapse when you really need to fight.”

“I believe in you.”

When I said that, Ria stared at me intently. I stuck out my tongue slightly.

For some reason, Ria blushed and turned her head.

Hmm. Still, this face seems to be useful.

I thought it was completely useless when dancing.

*

Although Ria said it was too dangerous, my idea was conveyed.

“Can the girl solve that?”

Gloria said with a smile.

“It’s simple. We just need to create thick ice on the lake, right? We don’t need to freeze the whole thing, nor do we need to maintain it permanently. As long as it’s enough to throw sandbags into it, right?”

“That would be enough… but is it okay? All electronic devices and magic-powered devices break down in the face of strong magic.”

“Heh heh.”

But at my words, Gloria replied, lifting her chin.

“It doesn’t matter. The most effective means against magic is ‘living things.’ How can I be called the kingdom’s greatest magician if I can’t even withstand that much?”

The kingdom’s greatest magician was also powerless against poison.

Well, that’s probably why they tried to eliminate her with poison first.

And, hearing Gloria’s words, I heard a snort from beside me.

“Will one person be enough?”

Saying that, the person who lifted her chin with an expression similar to Gloria’s was Han Yu-ri.

As if not wanting to lose to Gloria, Han Yu-ri willingly expressed her intention to participate in the plan. In fact, she had already followed Gloria before Gloria even mentioned the plan.

Is she trying to look cool to Lee Si-yoon?

Unfortunately, Lee Si-yoon himself couldn’t join this.

Although Han Yu-ri’s rank was somewhat low, she was already a renowned genius. In the first place, it was amazing that she started at rank 6, as there was a time limit for advancing hunter ranks at once.

“I’ll help too. If it’s something that freezes, I’m confident too.”

Unfortunately, creating functions like air conditioners with magic was a waste of magic, but I trust her skills.

In addition, with the addition of several high-ranking hunters to escort us and some knights, the number of people who could supplement Gloria and Han Yu-ri’s magic increased.

At first glance, it seems plausible. It seems like we just need to create a large ice bridge over the lake and carry sandbags up to throw them.

However, I have a feeling that it won’t be that simple.

“…There are also monsters born from magic, you know.”

I said.

“For now, we are only purifying the outskirts, so there may not be a big reaction, but once we reach the center of the lake, anything could happen.”

The magic sphere looked like a large beast’s eyeball. Seeing that it attacked us as soon as it spotted me and Ria, it seemed to have some intelligence.

I didn’t know exactly what that magic sphere was, though.

“It could be dangerous, are you really okay?”

“You seem to think it’s okay.”

Ria said, as if piercing my intentions.

“Do you think it’s okay for you to go to the middle of that lake? It’s dangerous for you too, isn’t it?”

Going to the center of that ‘lake,’ in preparation for any unforeseen circumstances, it is a rational and reasonable choice for me, who is favored by the being above, to accompany them.

But separate from that, human emotions sometimes cannot fully accept that fact.

For Ria, a friend is a precious existence. Even the other heroines, who quarreled at first, eventually become beings that Ria must protect.

Especially the Saint. Although they argued the most, Ria would lose her reason if anything happened to the Saint’s safety.

…The Saint was the same.

Well, since it was a web novel, it might have ended with a harem ending. All the heroines reconcile and marry Lee Si-yoon-

…

Hmm.

Although I would be out of that picture, the thought of Ria being in the middle of it made me feel bad, so I stopped that thought.

Th-that’s right?

As expected, the heroine is the childhood friend. No other heroines are needed.

“Anna.”

As I remained silent, Ria called me as if urging me.

“…It’s not okay, honestly. Emotionally speaking, I don’t really want to do it.”

“But?”

“But, it’s something only I can do. And it could definitely become a big problem later.”

It wasn’t that it *could* become a big problem, but that it *will* become a big problem.

Ria looked at me quietly, then let out a small sigh and nodded.

Thus, our plan became ‘to do it.’

*

“Anna, I have something I want to ask.”

As everyone was leaving the tent after a short meeting, Gloria turned to me and asked.

“You saved the goblins… no, the goblins last time.”

Hmm.

It brings up memories I’d rather not recall.

Am I still treated as a goddess there? Hmm, let’s not ask. I think ignorance is bliss.

“This time, I am trying to save the gnomes. They didn’t even show any particular signs of asking for your help, and they refused to throw the holy artifacts you mentioned, saying it was difficult, so why are you trying to save them?”

Trying to save them, huh.

Well. I didn’t think of it that way. If anything, it’s more about quickly dealing with a cause that could lead to big problems if left for later.

In the end, it could be seen as saving many lives- but well, I can’t be sure how events will unfold in this world.

Perhaps Lee Si-yoon, who suddenly awakened, could have dealt with them all without me intervening. Perhaps the being above found a more suitable person than me and created a better Saint to save the world.

But all of that is a story that hasn’t been decided yet.

Just because no one has tripped over a stone yet doesn’t mean we can’t remove the stones on the road.

Since I saw it, I will remove it.

I waved my hand to chase away the being that was unnecessarily shining light on my face, and then looked back at Gloria.

“It’s the same reason I helped you, Gloria.”

I replied.

“People in danger who cannot be helped without my assistance have asked for my help, so I am helping them.”

“…?”

At my answer, Gloria paused for a moment in thought, then nodded.

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

If I didn’t have the strength, I probably wouldn’t have even thought of helping. If someone was crushed by a bus, or dangling precariously down there, I wouldn’t have been able to save them.

But if I can help without exerting much effort, I want to help.

If that help can save the world, even better.

I glanced slightly at Ria. Ria blinked, wondering why I was suddenly looking at her.

…At first, I just wanted to quit everything and live comfortably, but now I have a goal.

Isn’t it impossible to live only by taking what you want in life?